Brick-press



UNiTED STATES `PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN USTIGK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BRICK-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 13,239, dated July 10, 1855.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN Us'rioii, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Brick-Machines; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the constructionand operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,making part of this specification.

Figure l is a side elevation of the improved machine. F ig. 2 is a frontelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section ofditto, at the line of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a View of the back part of thecam-wheel, for giving the necessary reciprocating motion to the fillingboxes, for supplying the condensing chambers or molds with clay, andpushing the previously formed bricks from the pistons, and cleaning andoiling the pressing surfaces of the said pistons. Fig. 5 is a plan ofthe pressing surface of one of the pistons, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 6is an end view of one of the pistons. Fig. 7 is a section of ditto atthe line l, l, of Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section of the same atthe line 2, 2 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9, is a plan of the dove-tailed surfacesof the plates, forming the face or pressing surfaces of the pistons.Fig. 10, is a front elevation of the casting and upper and lowerfriction wheels E, H, detached from the machine.

`Where the same letters occur in the several figures they indicatecorrespondingparts.

The nature of this invention and improvement consists in so forming thecams on the wheels, thrpugh which the pressure is eX- erted on thebricks, and combining the pistons and the parts to which they areattached with the same, as to cause the cams to act upon the frictionwheels of the upper and lower pistons, after the manner of a wedge, andthe strain to be confined to the body of metal between the cams; andalso in so forming the pistons as to allow the escape of the condensedair through them from the clay, while being formed into bricks, andenable the area of the pressing surfaces to be enlarged to compensatefor the slight wear on their edges; together with a novel combination ofparts for supplying the condensing chambers or molds withclaydischarging the bricks from between the pistons, and cleaning andlubricating the l, faces of the pistons, to prevent the adhesion l ofclay to their surfaces.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

The frame A is made of a rectangular form of suitable size, strength andmaterial, to cont-ain and support the several parts of the machine,-andis provided at its upper part with boxes, in which rest the mainhorizontal driving shaft B. This shaft is arranged midway between thetop side beams of the frame, its rear end extending sufficiently farbeyond the back beam of the frame to receive a band wheel or otherdevice, desired to be secured to this end, for giving the motion to themachine, and its front end terminating a short distance back of theuprights of the said frame, so as to enable an irregular formed castingC, on which the cams for moving the pistons are formed, to be secured onthis front end, immediately back of the said front uprights. On thefront of this casting and around the circumference of the same, isformed an irregular shaped rim, on the inner and outer surfaces orperipheries of which are formed a series of cams, for respectivelypressing the pistons together in the condensing molds to form thebricks, and raising the pistons together with the bricks in the molds,until the upper surface of the bricks are even, or nearly so, with theupper surface of said molds, when the bricks are relieved of the weightor pressure of the upper pistons, and the parts attached to the same, bythe cam or curve on the projection C, formed on the back part of thecasting, in the manner hereinafter stated.

The cams D, G, for pressing the bricks extend around a portion of theinner and outer periphery of the rim of the casting and are in the formof segments of a circle scribed from points eccentric with the center ofthe driving shaft on which the casting is secured. The inner cam D, forpressing the lower pistons upward, extends from the point D', to thepoint D2, being about one third of the circle of which it is a segment,the point D, where the pressing commences, being situated farther fromthe center of the driving shaft than the point D2, where the pressingterminates, in such a manner as to cause it in its revolution under thel friction wheel E, of the lower piston frame F, to raise the same therequired distance to lower frame F, was raised. This frame F,

is placed between upright adjustable guides K, whose tongues entergrooves in the sliding boxes L, secured to the uprights of the saidframe F, and has upright posts F, to

' which the istons N are secured to its lower cross part. The frame o-rblock I, to which the upper pistons are secured, has tongues on itssides, which move in upright adjustable guides M, fastened to the sidesof the front part of the main frame A. r[he curved surface of the innerperiphery of the rim, from the point D2, to the point D3, extends in itscourse around, slightly toward the center o-f the driving shaft, in theform of a segment of a circle, so as to, bring the point D3, nearer tothe center of the shaft than the point D2, and enable the curved surfacebetween the two points, to raise the friction wheel E, of the lowerpistion frame F, to bring the upper surfaces of the bricks o-n a line ornearly so with the top of the condensing molds Q. The Aupper pistons O,being held upon the upper surfaces of the bricks with their full degreeof pressure by the segmental surface from G2 to g which is parallel withthe surface from D2, to D3, thereby causing the bricks to be held in acompressed state, until the lo-wer pistons are raised sufficiently high,to bring the upper surface of the bricks to the top of the molds. Fromthe point D3, of said inner periphery to the point D2, the surface is inthe form of a segment of a circle, scribed from the center of thedriving shaft B, so as to simply keep the friction wheel E, of the lowerpiston frame F, and the lower piston N, in a state of suspension, duringthe passage of this segmental portion under the friction wheel E, toenable the upper pistons O, to be removed fro-mthe upper surfaces of thebricks, while the bricks are held in a state of suspension within themolds, and allow the escape of any condensed air that mayl remain in thebricks, from their upper surfaces, while their edges are confined in themolds, and thus prevent the said edges of the bricks being broken, bythe escape of such air through the same, when not held compactlytogether, by the sides of the molds. JAfter the said segmental portionbetween D2, and D3, passes the friction wheel E, the curve orl cam S,represented by the red lines in Figs. 2, and

10, on the projection or cam C, of the casting C, operates on thefriction wheel, T, and raises the pistons O, sufficiently high to allowthe filling boxes P, to pass under the same. From the point D4, thesurface extends in its curved course, to the point D3, which beingnearer the center of the driving shaft than the point D4, causes theupper surface of the lower pistons to be raised even with the top of themolds, by its passage under the friction wheel E, where they are held ina state of suspension, until the bricks are discharged from the surfaceof the pistons, by the reciprocating filling boxes P, for supplying theclay, the said lower pistons N, being held in the position stated,during the reciprocating movement of the filling boxes P, forward, overthe same by the friction wheel E, resting on the portion ofthe peripheryof the rim, fro-m the points D5, to D3, which is in the form of asegment of a circle, scribed from the center of the driving shaft B.From the point D3, to the point D7, the inner irregular formed peripheryof the rim of the casting, curves outward in its course around the pointD7, being a sufficient distance farther from the center of the drivingshaft than the point D3, to enable the friction wheel E, to descend overthe surface between D3, and D7, in its passage under the same, by thegravity of the lower piston frame F, pistons N, and friction wheel E,until the lower part of the said frame rests upon the upper end of theadjustable vertical screw R, passing through the lower cross beam of theframe, which screw, is capable 4 of being raised and lowered in saidcross beam, to regulate the distance of descent of the lower pistons inthe condensing molds Q, and consequently the quantity of clay admittedinto the same, to be pressed or condensed linto bricks.

From the point D7, to the point D, where the pressing cam commences, thesurface of the rim of the casting is in the form of a segment of acircle, scribed from the center of the main driving shaft.. The outerperiphery of the rim of the casting from the point G2, to the point (g)extends in a segmental direction slightly toward the center of the shaftB, and parallel with the inner curved surface of the rim, from the pointD2, to D3, in such a manner as to cause the segmental surfaces to keepthe pistons pressed upon the bricks in the molds, until the uppersurfaces of the bricks, are raised even, o-r nearly so, with the tops ofthe molds, and the remainder of the said outer periphery of the rim ofthe casting, from the point g, around to the point G3 extends inirregular curves in part of its course, being parallel or nearly so withthe inner periphery, and as it is not designed to perform any particularfunction, it may be shaped to suit the views of the constructor, carebeing observedthat it shall not project at any of its parts, so far fromthe center of the driving shafts as to touch the lower friction wheel-H.From the point G3, to the point G, the outer surface of the rim takesrather an abruptcurve outward, somewhat after the manner of acima-reversa, and from the point G4, to the point G, the point ofbeginning ofthe segmental pressing surface G, the outer surface of therim assumes a gradual curve, the abrupt curve or cam, from G3, to G4,serving to force the upper pistons O,

V down to the surface of the clay in the condensing molds, in case t-hebinding on the edges of their frames should prevent them descending bythe gravity of the fra-me F and its attachments the gradual curve fromG* to G continuing the force of the upper pistons with increased power.

The upper pistons O, and frame or block I, to which they are secured,are raised sufiiciently high above the bricks, to enable thereciprocating filling boxes P, to pass under the same, and discharge theformed bricks, and fill the condensing molds Q, with clay, by means ofthe curved surface or cam S, on the projection C', on the back surfaceof the castings C, operating on the friction wheel T. This projection isrepresented in section in Fig. 3, and with red lines in Fig. 2, andabout one third of its periphery is in the form of a segment o-f acircle S, scribed from the center of the driving shaft B, and of aboutthe same radius as the segmental cam D, on the inner periphery of therim, and situated immediately in the rear of the same. The surfaces S,S2, at the ends of this segmental portion of the projection, are curvedand extended inward` so as to connect with the segmental portion S3 ofthe periphery scribed from the center of the driving-shaft, from asmaller radius than the first mentioned segmental portion S, on theopposite side to which it is situated. The various curves S, S', S2, S3,of the periphery of this projection C, are situated in such relation tothe curves or cams on the inner and outer peripheries of the rim of thecasting C, as to raise the upper pistons O, soon after the frictionwheel H, of their frame or block I, is cleared of the pressure of thesegmental cam extending from G, to G2, on the outer periphery of thesaid rim, suliiciently high, as to enable the reciprocatingfilling-boxes P, to be moved under the same, and to be suspended in thisposition by the friction wheel T, rest-ing on the segmental surface,until the latter in its revolution has passed entirely under thesaid-wheel T, which raising is eected by the cani S, operating on thefriction wheel T, on the side of the curved upright U, at tached at itslower end to thevframe or block I, of the said upper pistons O.

The reciprocating filling boxes P, for supplying the condensing molds Q,with clay, are arranged immediately under an inclined trunk or trough V,through which the supply is received from above, and it may have as manyapartments as there are condensing molds, and being open at the top andbottom receive a supply from the trunk or trough V, every time they arebrought under the samethe horizontal board W on which -they rest andslide forming a bottom to rctain the clay within them as they are movedtoward the condensing molds Q, and the horizontal board X or flatsurface, extending backward from their upper edge, moving under thetrunk or trough, as they are moved from the same, forms a bottom toprevent the escape of the clay from the said trunk or trough. Thesesupply boxes P, receive their reciprocating movement through arock-shaft Y, arranged crosswise at the rear of the machine, and havingradial arms 1, 2, extending backward and upward from its center-the arm(2) extending upward, being much longer than the other arm (1) andattached by a joint pin, to a rod 3, connecting its upper end with therear of the boxes P, and the smaller radial arm (1) being attached atits outer end, to an upright sliding rod 4, moving in guides at itsLipper end, and having a friction wheel 5, on its end, situated within agroove 6, formed in the rear part of a wheel 7, secured o-n thedriving-shaft B. This groove is formed near the periphery of the wheel,and its peripheries are made in the form of a circle 8, abo-ut twothirds of its whole extent, the remaining segment being cut oft and theends of the others joined by curves 9, 10, of greater radius andapproaching nearer' the center of the driving shaft-their peripheriesnearest the shaft being made in the form of a segment of a circle 11,scribed from the center of said shaft for a short distance, so as toallow this last mentioned segmental portion of the groove, to pass byt-he friction wheel 5, without either raising or lowering the same, andthus during the passage of the said portion, keep the supply or fillingboxes P, immediately over the condensing molds Q, to allow themsufficient time to discharge their contents into the said condensingmolds-and in t-he same manner the segmental portion 8, of the groovepasses by the friction wheel 5, in its revolution, without eitherraising or lowering it, so as to keep the filling boxes under the trunkor trough V, to be filled, during the time the bricks are being pressedand raised from the molds.

The pressing faces of the pistons are formed of rectangular longitudinalplates 12, having transverse plates 18, of the same thickness, arrangedat one of their ends, on the same line with their surfaces, in such amanner as to enable the end edges of the transverse plates 13 to.bebrought against the side edges of the longitudinal plates 12, at rightangles with their sides, and the four plates, thus put together, to forma surface of a size and form, corresponding with the size and form ofthe condensing molds, and exactly tting in the same, The longitudinalplates 12, are separated a short distance from each other, by thinplates or shoulders 14, inserted or otherwise placed between theiredges, at the ends, so as to leave a slit between them of suflicientcapacity, to allow the escape through it of the condensed air, at theupper and lower parts of the brick, during the operation of pressing thesame, but not of suflicient width to allow the passage of any materialpart of the clay. These spaces between the plates, extend nearly theirwhole length, and are increased in width, as they extend to the oppositesurface of the plates, by the edges of the same between which they aresituated, being made inclined or beveled-a channel 15, being formed inthe body of the piston to which these plate are secured, immediatelynext, and in continuation of this space, for affording a free passagefor the escape of the air at the ends of the pistons, and enabling themto be cleaned by the insertion of wires, or other devices, in case theclay should enter them. These plates 12, are secured firmly to thesurface of the block or main body of the piston, by means of dove-tailedprojections or tongues 16, cast or secured on the ends of thelongitudinal plates 12, and at the centers of the transverse plates 13,and inserted in corresponding mortises or grooves formed in the surfaceof` the block or body of the piston, against which they are placed,which mortises or grooves, are larger than the tongues or projections,and made slightly tapering on one of their sides, so as to admit a wedgeor gib 17, between the tapered sides and the sides of the tongues ordove-tailed projections 16, for securing the plates 12 and 13 firmly intheir places-the inner ends of said wedges or gibs 17, extending beyondthe dove-tailed projections or tongues, into transverse spaces 18,formed in the surface of the block or body of the piston, and extendingthe full distance across the same, so as to enable the end of a tool tobe inserted in the said transverse spaces, and the wedges or gibs to beforced from their position to remove the plates in case of wear, toinsert strips of metal or thin plates, between the ends of thelongitudinal plates and the transverse plates, and the beveled orinclined edges, and again inserting thinner wedges or gibs, to securethem together, and by thus enlarging the area of the pressing surface ofthe piston, compensate for the wear of its edges,

and adjust it to lit the condensing molds at all times.

The operation is as follows: Motion being communicated to the maindriving shaft B, by means of a band leading from steam or other power toa band wheel on said shaft, or through any desired agency, the fillingboxes P filled with pulverized clay from the inclined trunk or spout V,are forced out over the condensing molds, by means of a curved surface20 of the groove 6 in the wheel 7 between the larger segmental portion8, and smaller segmental part 11, operating on the friction wheel 5, andraising it and the upright sliding bar 4, to which it is attached andconsequently giving the forward motion to the filling boxes, and causingthe leather 19, which may be kept moistened with oil if desired, ontheir front, to scrape or rub the surfaces of the pistons in theirmovement, and clean them of any clay that may have adhered to them, fromtheir previous operation-the upper and lower pistons being heldsuspended during this movement of the filling-boxes the former withtheir lower surfaces on a line or nearly so with the top of the leather,by means of the friction wheel T, resting on the segmental portion ofthe periphery of the projection C', and the latter with their uppersurfaces on a line with the top of the condensing molds Q, by thefriction wheel E, resting on the segmental cam D5, D, on the innerperiphery of the rim of the casting. After t-he cam D5, D6, in itsrevolution passes under the wheel E, the lower pistons N, descend in themolds Q, through the weight of their frame F, and its attachments, thefriction wheel E descending over the curved surface of the rim from DGto D7, as it passes under the same until the lower part of the frame F,rests upon the top of the screw R, for regulating the quantity of clayadmitted to the molds. During the descent of the pistons N, to receivethe clay, the filling boxes P, are held over them, by the smallersegmental portion 1,1, of the groove, passing the friction wheel 5, andafter the molds are filled, the curved portion 21, of the groove 6 nextthe smaller segmental port-ion operates on the said friction wheel 5 anddraws the filling-boxes again under the trunk or spout V where they areretained, to be again lled during the passage of the larger segmentalportion 8, by the friction wheel 5. Immediately after the filling boxesare drawn back from under the pistons O, the said upper pistons arecaused to descend into the condensing molds by the gravity of themselvesand the frame F, and its attachments combinedthe upper friction wheel T,being in the meantime relieved of the segmental portion of the cam orprojection C', on the back portion of the casting, and said wheel in itsdescent rolling over the surface of said cam or projection, as it passesunder the same.

In case the pistons and frame should fail to descend, by their gravityfrom any cause, they will be forced down by the curved sur face or cam,on the rim of the casting C, between the points G3 and G4 operating onthe friction wheel H, during its revolution. The upper pistons O,continue to descend, through the agency of the cam or curve from G4, toG', on t-heir friction wheel H, and from the points D and G', on theinner and outer periphery of the rim, to the points D2, and G2, theeccentric segmental curves D, G, operate on their respective frictionwheels E, H, and cause the upper and lower pistons to be drawn togetherin the molds, to condense the clay therein into bricks, with a forcecorresponding with the taper of the wedge, which the two segmentalsurfaces or cams assume in relation to the friction wheels in theirpassage between them. After the bricks are formed the pistons areraised, and the bricks discharged in the manner before stated, in

the body of the specification.

The plan of the machine above described, may be made to press double thenumber of bricks as is formed by the machine described, and represented,by securing another casting similar to the casting C at the opposite orback end of the driving shaft, and applying the motive power to theshaft between the two castings, and arranging another set of molds,upper and lower pistons, and duplicates `of all the other partsnecessary to the producing of the bricks, in the same relation to theback casting, as the others are to the casting C, making the machine infact a double one instead of a single one, as represented and described,the number of molds and pistons operated upon by the casting C, may bemoreover increased or diminished at the will of the operator.

Having thus fully described the construction and operation of theseveral parts of the brick-machine as improved by me, what I claimtherein as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl.Combining the inner and outer peripheries of the rim of the revolvingcasting, shaped in segmental curves, eccentric with each other, and withthe center of the shaft on which the casting is secured, in suchrelation to the upper and lower pistons, for pressing the brick frames,to which they are attached, and to the friction wheels in said frames,as to cause the said segmental surfaces, to operate on the frictionwheels, in their revolutions between the same, after the manner of awedge, and thus avoid all liability of strain on the shaft B, arisingfrom the resistance of the pressure exerted in pressing the bricks, byconfining it to the body of metal between the two surfaces,substantially in the manner herein set forth.

2. I claim forming the faces of the pistons, of longitudinal andtransverse plates, secured to the blocks or main body of the pistons, bydove-tailed tongues or grooves, and wedges or gibs, and capable of beingmovedoutward, sidewise and endwise, so as to increase the area of theface of the pistons, in case of wear as beforeldescribed.

3. I claim forming a narrow slit, in the center or other part of theface of the piston, widening as it extends from the face, or not, asdesired, and communicating with the outside of the pistons, throughtheir ends, for allowing the air confined in the molds to escape duringthe pressing of the clay into bricks, as herein described.

STEPHEN USTICK.

Witnesses:

JN0. B. KENNEY, JOHN P. OWENS.

